Skype has released an update to its iPhone app that takes advantage of iOS 4's multitasking capabilities. You can now make and receive calls while working outside the app, and even when the iPhone itself is locked.

The ramifications are impressive -- it's now possible to pretend you're listening to your Skype contacts wittering on about the birth of some child or whatever while enjoying a sneaky browse through your photos, or responding to a few emails.

Ever since iOS 4 became publicly available we've been enjoying the slew of updates to all our favourite apps, and Skype is a welcome addition to the club. Furthermore, the benevolent Skype overlords have stated in a blog post that they won't be charging an additional fee for calling over 3G, saying, "Better call quality and better availability... lead to increased call frequency and longer calls.

"We also believe that the mobile world is in a period of significant change, for example, with some operators starting to move to tiered pricing models. In light of that, we no longer have plans to charge a supplement to make calls over 3G."

Sounds like good news all round. Are you an avid Skyper already? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and then read our Skype for iOS4 review.

About the author

Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.
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